Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) - Eighteen of the 25 people who were injured Wednesday when a South African Airways (SAA) flight from Johannesburg to Hong Kong hit severe turbulence have been discharged from hospital.

Company spokesman Tlali Tlali said two unidentified passengers were still undergoing observation at the North Lantau Hospital in Hong Kong.

Flight SA286, which took off from Johannesburg, encountered severe turbulence while in the Kuala Lumpur airspace in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

The crew of the flight immediately requested medical assistance for the passengers, which was arranged and ready on arrival of the aircraft in Hong Kong.

There were 165 passengers on board. In addition to the 25 passengers who were injured, three crew members also needed treatment.

The interior panels of the aircraft were damaged in the incident.
-0- PANA CU/SEG 17July2014